13WL Brake Upgrade

The original idea to vent gases given off by brake pads so they couldn't keep the pads from making contact with the rotors while hot, but it modern pad materials don't off gas like that.

 

The kit seems to be quite a bit cheaper at Rock Auto.

Also, there are less expensive options for ceramic pads (vs ceramic/carbon fiber... if that's even a thing). And standard, not drilled & slotted rotors.

Worth noting.

 

I wonder why mine have not warped. I hear it happens frequently on the early years. The previous owner had a brake job done right before he sold the truck.

How many miles are you guys getting out of your pads? I'm approaching 30K on this set.

 

Well, I have a theory that its because people let the rear brakes get out of adjustment and the front brakes get over worked but its just a theory at this point.

 

It looks like you installed this kit a while ago, any review on the product? My rotors have been warped since i bought the truck and I'm trying to figure out the best route of replacement parts

 

No complaints. Rotors are still straight, even with the larger tires. I pull a drift boat frequently (hardly any weight), but no issue slowing her down.

 

Awesome thanks for the reply!

 

2002 Tundra V8 here. Drove with original warped rotors until last year. Had front end rebuilt and they also installed new rotors and pads.

Around that same time I discovered about the RLSP Valve adjustment to make my rear brakes take on more braking power. My adjustment was bottomed out (from factory?) until I raised it about mid-way up.

Both of these changes made the truck stop substantially better.

Next good adjustment was at the rear drums where my parking brake cables were mis-installed by others in the past brake service. These cables were put back into their proper slots such that the shoes now adjust themselves properly.

Final boost to better braking was actually bleeding the lines with fresh DOT3. They hadn’t been done in about 5 years. Pictured dirty fluid was from front passenger caliper.

 

Awesome info! Did you go with OEM rotors and pads?

That service is definitely due on my truck. My pedal is mushy unless I pump it once then it feels as it should.

 

Not sure of the brand, but they weren’t OEM. Holding nicely with no warp in a years worth of driving (14k miles).

 

Opps. Forgot to mention I have the WE calipers, not the WL (larger).

Still have all the OEM brake lines, as well. Nothing has been upgraded other than the above mentioned minor adjustments. Brakes real nicely.

 

I did the same big brake upgrade 2 years ago, 2000 up to a 2006, just went with Beck Arnley Reman calipers and Stoptech drilled/slotted rotors, Akebono pads, steel lines. . From personal experience, the stop is much better than before, like holy shit much better. No more brake issues like the old set up. The older stock reman calipers and rotors I installed about 7 years ago went to shit. The Rotors seemed to start warping after 3 years. So while your sitting there at a stop light after a heavy stop and the heat from the pads has nowhere to go warping your rotor.............well, I'll stay with my slotted drilled rotors, which by the way are much bigger than the 2000.....well there is my surface area. Best upgrade I did so far. All new drums, shoes and hardware in back as well.

 

I just did this kit from rockauto. Requires a little trimming of the dust shield to clear the new calipers but was pretty straight forward. If you do this and have nasty brake juice be sure and bleed BEFORE you swap so as not to contaminate your shiny new calipers. And of course bleed after as well to get rid of the air...

Heres what I did: https://www.tundras.com/threads/front-brake-job.41227/

 

No trimming shields for me....................there's a reason I didn't go with Powerstop, let me know in a couple years.

 

I feel a brake war heating up!

 

Whatever happened to Marbles? Did you run him off?

 

Not sure, but I thought we had made up and were now friends?

Last I heard, he and his neighbor were doing his timing belt job. Hope he is ok!

 

Did you go from WE to WL calipers?

 

His twin showed up

 

I'm a lover, not a fighter....you get what you pay for, I would rather have the powerstop big brake up grade than the original. I just paid twice as much for a different company. Also keep in mind I've been working on Imports for 30 years and have become loyal to certain companies.

 

Looks like I’m slowly reaching Brake Nirvana on the 2002. I’ve ticked all the boxes so far with small improvements at each accomplishment and the last box to tick next week will be this 13WL install.

So far, in sequential order, the boxes ticked are:

1) Load Sensing Proportional Valve adjust up. Very easy and free improvement. Noticeable too! Do it!

2) Parking brake cables adjustments. This one was a little frustrating, as I worked through the specs but didn’t check the inside drum area to notice prior brake service mechanic didn’t loop inner cable in its slot. Once I discovered this, the parking brake puzzle was solved. Works like a champ now. Do it. Cheap!

3) Brake Fluid Flush with DOT3. Made the pedal feel real solid. Cheap and easy. Do it!

4) Flexible Braided Brake Hose install. Eh. Pedal feels ‘more evenly distributed’ in pressure throughout the press. Same braking distances. Just a differing feel at pedal. Less soft to hard feel pre-install. More medium pressure press throughout post-install. Worth it if you want to blow $100 for small gains. Items 1-3 above blow my skirt more than this #4. If anything good came from me doing this it was to notice my 13WE calipers had tears in the rubbers which leads me to #5.

5) This pending 13WL upgrade. Review pending until next week post-install. Really hoping for great results based on this thread. I’ll be keeping my one and a half year ‘non slotted/non drilled’ newer rotors. Going with the Tow Brake Pads which are a ceramic/graphite combo.

 

Edit to post #51 above.

Installed the 13WL calipers and re-bleed brakes with Bosch DOT5.1 brake fluid. Truck is braking better. The stops are more powerful and better controlled than the old WE13 calipers.



The oldies with 3 of 4 frozen pistons.

 

Powerstop buyers, what issues have you run in to long term? I was going to buy the WL kit from Amazon, but there were too many negative reviews with issues on the calipers.

Full disclosure, I have a 1997 4Runner but the 1st gen tundra brake calipers bolt directly on to the 3rd gen 4Runner. Trying to get info on the brakes from guys who’ve used them on the heavier trucks.

 

What year did they start doing 13WL calipers? And is the gx460 upgrade even bigger calipers? I know it’s a bigger rotor...

Mine is an 04 AC. I have performance rotors, pads and stainless all around. Looking for more with the 35s and don’t feel like shelling out for the big brake kit.

 

Mid 03 was the upgrade so you should have the 13WL. The gx460 brakes (14WA) are larger. Below is a quick spec list in differences. Also a link from someone upgrading 13WG (same specs as WL's) and their testing. They picked up about 4 ft from 61/62 to consistently 57' braking from 40mph. I went from 13WE which are the smallest/weakest to 14wa and it was a good upgrade!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...unner-bbk-upgrade-for-2nd-gen-tacomas.504234/

13WL
Caliper Size - 11-5/8" Inch
Rotor Size - 318.7mm
Rotor Thickness - 28mm
Rotor Weight - 20.48 lbs
Brake Pad Size -
Piston Size - 45mm
Wheel Size - 16"- 17"

14WA
Rotor Size - 338mm
Rotor Thickness - 31.8mm
Rotor Weight - 21.7 lbs
Brake Pad Size -
Piston Size - 48mm
Wheel Size - 17"

 

will the 14WA bolt up and fit the 1st Gen Tundra?

 

You need to mill 3.5mm off the "ears" on the inside and then the rest is bolt-on.

 

Very helpful thank you!

 

could I mill them with a grinder, er should I is more appropriate.

 

You want a flat surface. The machine shop I took them to charged me 30 bucks each and took less than an hour.

You don't want uneven mounting on your calipers.